RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 23 /
Christian Newswire/ -- On Monday the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted 8-6-1 along party lines to kill a pro-faith bill, HB2314, which would have restored the rights of Virginia State Police Chaplains to pray publicly "in Jesus name."
The Virginia House of Delegates had successfully voted 66-30 last month for HB2314, written by Delegate Charles W. Carrico, (R-Galax, call 276-730-4375 for interviews), which would have restored the rights of State Trooper Chaplains, six of whom heroically resigned last fall, rather than water-down their prayers or publicly deny Christ, as ordered by the Governor Tim Kaine Administration. Now Del. Carrico admits the chaplains' rights will unfortunately not be reinstated, until new elections are held on Nov. 3rd, 2009.
8 Democrats voted against allowing Jesus prayers. Their phone numbers are:
Sen. Creigh Deeds, (D-Charlottesville), 804-698-7525/434-296-5491.
Sen. Linda Toddy Puller, (D-Mount Vernon), 804-698-7536/703-765-1150.
Sen. John S. Edwards, (D-Roanoke), 804-698-7521/540-985-8690.
Sen. L. Louise Lucas, (D-Portsmouth), 804-698-7518/757-397-8209.
Sen. Janet D. Howell, (D-Reston/Fairfax), 804-698-7532/703-709-8283.
Sen. W. Roscoe Reynolds, (D-Martinsville), 804-698-7520/276-638-2315.
Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, (D-Springfield/Fairfax), 804-698-7535/703-978-0200.
Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, (D-Richmond), 804-698-7516/804-648-9073.
6 Republicans voted to allow Jesus prayers. Their phone numbers are:
Sen. Frederick M. Quayle, (R-Virginia Beach), 804-698-7513/757-483-9173.
Sen. Robert Hurt, (R-Chatham), 804-698-7519/434-432-4600.
Sen. Ryan T. McDougle, (R-Mechanicsville), 804-698-7504/804-730-1026.
Sen. Mark D. Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), 804-698-7526/540-437-1451.
Sen. Ken T. Cuccinelli, II (R-Fairfax), 804-698-7537/703-766-0635.
Sen. Ken Stolle, (R-Virginia Beach) 804-698-7508/757-486-5700.
1 Republican, Sen. Thomas Norment, (R-Williamsburg), 804-698-7503/757-259-7810, not only voted against Jesus prayers, but wrote an aggressive amendment gutting HB2314 by mandating "non-sectarian" prayers, which would've permanently banned police chaplains from praying publicly "in Jesus name."
Sen. Creigh Deeds, one of three Democrats running for Governor this year, voted against Jesus prayers. But Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the only Republican running for Governor (
www.bobmcdonnell.com), issued a statement defending police chaplains right to pray "in Jesus name," and if elected will have the power to reverse the Kaine Administration's ban on religious freedom.
Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, spokesman for the six police chaplains forced to resign (who himself was fired in 2006 for praying "in Jesus name" in uniform outside chapel), had delivered 6,805 paper petitions (please sign petition at
www.prayinjesusname.org) to each of the 15 Senators listed above, with a DVD showing 1,000 citizens who rallied to honor Jesus and the six chaplains outside the Governor's mansion last fall.
